Matt Rainey/The Star-LedgerLt. Gov. Kim Guadagno speaks at the meeting of the N.J. State Council on the Arts at the State Museum's auditorium, in this July 2010 photo.

ATLANTIC CITY — Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno took the stage today in place of Gov. Chris Christie before a large contingent of local government leaders, and her message echoed his: The Legislature needs to pass the governor’s "tool kit" immediately.

She called on local leaders at the League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City to get behind the administration in the fight to pass reforms aimed at helping towns cut costs, inlcuding changes to arbitration and civil service rules. She repeated many of Christie’s talking points on reform, including pointing out the governor’s Dec. 31 deadline for passage.

"It’s not about who wins or loses. It’s how we fix the problems that face us all," Guadagno said in a 30-minute speech. "We have to call our senators and our Assembly members, and we have to let them know what’s happening in your town."

The tool kit, a hot topic at the convention, is meant to offset the hit towns and cities will take when the 2 percent cap on property tax increases goes into effect in January. Local governments, already grappling with a drop in revenues and state aid coupled with a rise in costs, have said without more help, the cap could lead to service cuts and layoffs.

The keynote address at the conference is normally reserved for the governor, but Christie is in San Diego at the Republican Governors Association meeting. Guadagno’s message repeated much of what Christie has said in his recent town hall meetings.

Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver (D-Essex) told mayors at the convention Wednesday the took kit bills will be acted on before the year’s end. Guadagno said it can’t get done soon enough.

"Every day, at some point, that this tool kit is not enacted is a day that is wasted and a day we do disservice to the people that elected us," Guadagno said.

She told the local officials that layoffs of workers would be imminent without the tool kit. Guadagno said they would be the ones facing laid off workers at the grocery store or at football games if the measures aren’t passed quickly.

Jersey mayors support Gov. Christie's 'tool kit'Ledger Live for Thursday November 18th, 2010 - Ledger Live with Brian Donohue. On today's show: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno called on leaders at the League of Municipalities today to get behind Gov. Chris Christie in his fight to pass his 'tool kit' reforms. Mayors found themselves in agreement with the reforms.

Pittsgrove Township Mayor Linda Dubois, a Republican, said it was good to remind leaders they need to pressure lawmakers.

"They need to know that we aren’t going to change our minds," Dubois said. "It’s going to hit home that there is no money."

Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr. said while he supports the two civil service and arbitration reform, towns would best be served with pension reform.

"I appreciate what the governor wants to do, but a lot more ... needs to be resolved," Birkner, a Democrat, said.